Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 236

#235. Time to Repay the Debt

Back in my previous life, when I was struggling as a pitcher, there were two veterans who helped me.

One of them is Walter Smith, who is currently playing for the Warriors.

As a backup catcher who went back and forth between the big leagues and the minor leagues, he tried to teach me the basic mindset a pitcher should have and the trust in teammates.

And the other person, near the end of my time in Seattle, a veteran pitcher on the verge of retirement approached me, suggesting I learn the knuckleball, as I was worried about my declining velocity.

He said he would be sad if there were no knuckleball pitchers left in the big leagues after he retired, and he’s standing in front of me now with a much younger face.

“Welcome, Mike. And thank you.”

“Huh? Thank you? For what?”

During my last season in Seattle, I eventually learned the knuckleball from Mike.

As my fastball’s velocity and power were declining, I tried to find a new solution in the knuckleball, but in the end, it was a failure.

Just as I was about to transition from a fastball pitcher to a knuckleball pitcher, I moved teams, and as soon as I moved, my shoulder blew out, and I was completely off the mound.

And that knuckleball finally saw the light of day in my first Korean Series after my regression [return to a lower level of performance].

Therefore, if there is anyone I can call a mentor in baseball from my past life, it would be Walter and Mike.

Walter, who taught me about the pitcher’s mindset, and Mike, who taught me the knuckleball.

“There’s just something about it. Anyway, welcome to our team. Everything will be alright.”

“Huh?”

In my previous life, he was kicked out of the Dodgers and wandered around the independent leagues for a while, and only wore the Seattle uniform in his later years. My regression allowed him to join this team a little earlier.

I can’t be sure what kind of life he will lead as a baseball player in the future.

I hope he becomes a better pitcher due to the changed fate, but life is something no one can predict.

But one thing is for sure, I owe him a debt, and I now have the ability to repay it.

I’m going to give back what I received from him.

* * *

[Knuckleball pitcher Mike Warren, who changed his uniform from the Dodgers to Seattle, recorded a loss with 5 innings and 7 runs in his first start after the transfer]

[Knuckleball hit hard, was Seattle’s choice wrong?]

[Exclusive! Milwaukee’s young ace Shaquille Leonard joins the Yankees]

[Yankees acquire Shaquille Leonard, giving up three prospects, “We are always ready to do whatever it takes to create the best team.”]

[Shaquille Leonard, who became a New York Yankee, “I was a little disappointed when there were rumors of a trade to Seattle, but I’m glad I got to wear the pinstripes [Yankees uniform].”]

[Seattle GM Daniel Mitchell “I am deeply saddened by Shaquille Leonard’s rash remarks. We were considering him and Mike Warren, but we were convinced that Mike was more necessary for our team, regardless of money. And I still think so now.”]

[Shaquille Leonard, who made his first start wearing the Yankees uniform, achieved a win with 7 innings and 2 runs, “I’m glad I showed a performance worthy of the uniform.”]

[Shaquille Leonard’s first appearance after the transfer, which contrasts with Mike Warren’s poor performance the previous day with 5 innings and 7 runs, Seattle should not have saved money]

“Damn it!”

Mike Warren, who was hit hard by the Oakland hitters the day before and became a losing pitcher with 5 innings and 7 runs, is burying his face in his locker and suffering.

Fortunately, Ryan pitched a complete game victory with 9 innings and 3 runs in the third game against Oakland, which just ended, breaking the team’s losing streak.

But regardless, Mike was suffering from the comparison articles about him and Shaquille Leonard on the internet.

I’m not sure who it is, but someone has released the behind-the-scenes story of this trade.

Mike Warren and Shaquille Leonard were simultaneously put up for trade, and Seattle, which initially approached Shaquille, suddenly turned to Mike.

Perhaps articles comparing the two will continue to come out for a while.

Reporters live by stimulating public interest and earning views, regardless of whether the parties involved are suffering or not.

“Okay, let’s go home now. Mike, it’s okay. You don’t have to be so discouraged.”

“I’m sorry, Boss.”

Although they lost 1 win and 2 losses in the Oakland game, which was the last schedule of this 9-game away trip, the atmosphere of the Seattle team itself was not that bad.

However, the future was the problem. Seattle’s first-half performance will depend on how well Mike Warren, who will be playing as the 5th starter, performs.

The manager patted Mike’s shoulder, who was suffering.

It’s time to go home now.

* * *

“Yerin.”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Pardon?”

“And thank you always.”

“Heh…….”

Min Yerin, who was about to complain about Han Su-hyeok not responding to her messages even once during the past ten days of the away trip, blushed and froze.

She, who had been living with her father in New York until recently, prepared a new house and studio here in Seattle while Han Su-hyeok was away on the expedition [away games/road trip].

She sent Han Su-hyeok a lot of photos and messages to show it off, but he never responded.

The accumulated resentment and frustration disappeared like snow at Han Su-hyeok’s one word.

It wasn’t just because she heard him say he was sorry and thankful.

As the distance with Han Su-hyeok narrowed, Min Yerin felt something strange about him.

At first, she thought he was just taciturn, but it wasn’t.

Something was different.

Min Yerin, who had been observing him continuously for the past few years, finally realized what was wrong.

Han Su-hyeok was too stingy in expressing his feelings to others. No, it wasn’t just stingy, it was like he had never done it before.

So, with a big heart, she nagged him.

‘Oppa [term of endearment for older brother or male friend], I haven’t found that woman yet, but… if I find her, can you grant me one request?’

‘Request? What is it? I’ll just grant it right now.’

‘No, you don’t have to grant it right away…….’

‘No, I have to do that much. What is it?’

‘Um… I don’t know how to say this…….’

‘Just say it.’

‘I wish you were a more honest person. I hope you can say that you are having a hard time if you are having a hard time, that you are happy if you are happy, or that you are sad if you are sad, that you are grateful if you are grateful, and that you are upset if you are upset.’

‘Huh?’

‘At least, can you do that to the people around you? That’s my request.’

Han Su-hyeok eventually did not answer Min Yerin’s request.

But it seems that no answer was needed in the first place.

The words he said to her today.

All the answers were contained in those words that he was sorry and thankful.

“Oppa.”

“Yeah?”

“Can I look forward to 107 miles today [referring to his fastball speed]?”

Han Su-hyeok smiled slightly at Min Yerin’s words and answered.

She thought that smile was so beautiful.

“No, I’m going to throw a slightly different ball today.”

“Pardon?”

* * *

Bruce Matthews, the Seattle Mariners’ starting catcher, who caught Mike Warren’s knuckleball without any major mistakes in the last game, looked at someone with a bewildered expression.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m thinking of throwing mainly knuckleballs today.”

“Knuckleballs?”

“That’s right.”

“Why knuckleballs with a 107-mile fastball?”

“I want to prepare for when my shoulder is strained?”

“Huh?”

“Anyway, I’ll tell the manager and coaches, so just prepare your mitt. Oh, I need to enter the knuckleball into PitchCom [communication device between pitcher and catcher]. Then, please.”

Han Su-hyeok, who is scheduled to start in the first game of the two-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, suddenly declared that he would throw a knuckleball.

I heard that he threw a knuckleball once in Korea. But I didn’t pay much attention to it because he said he wouldn’t throw it again.

Aside from everything else, there’s no way a guy who can throw a 107-mile fastball would throw a knuckleball.

But now, that’s becoming a reality.

Bruce remembered the game he played with Mike Warren for the first time.

The knuckleball, which I caught for the first time since college, in nearly 10 years, was still bizarre and tricky.

Mike’s ball, which threw only knuckleballs throughout the game, was like that, but how difficult would it be to catch the knuckleball of a guy who throws a 107-mile fastball?

‘Damn it, my face will be on the front page of the sports newspaper tomorrow.’

Bruce grumbled as he packed a softball mitt to catch the knuckleball.

* * *

Whoosh

Boom

Thud

“Swing!”

“What, is that bastard playing with us?”

“70 miles? A 70-mile knuckleball?”

“Didn’t that guy say his main weapon is a 107-mile fastball? What is that?”

The first game of the two-game series between the Seattle Mariners and the Toronto Blue Jays.

When Han Su-hyeok, who came to the mound in the top of the first inning, threw two consecutive slow knuckleballs, the Toronto dugout began to buzz.

I struggled with the pitching machine all morning to face the newly emerging fastball pitcher in the major leagues who can put a 107-mile fastball in every corner of the zone.

Whoosh

Thud

“Swing! Out!”

“Another knuckleball? All three balls?”

“Damn it, what is it? Coach, what should we do? What should we aim for?”

The Toronto leadoff hitter’s bat cut through the air as a 60-mile knuckleball danced in the air following two 70-mile knuckleballs.

Three-pitch strikeout.

It wasn’t just the Toronto players who were embarrassed.

The Seattle fans who came to the stadium to see Han Su-hyeok’s cool fastball were also embarrassed.

“Has the starting pitcher changed today? 70 miles? 60 miles? What, is the scoreboard broken?”

“Sam, stop drinking. Do you know you have alcoholic dementia? What do you mean the pitcher has changed? It’s Han Su-hyeok.”

“Damn it, I guess I didn’t see it wrong. What is it? Why is he throwing that kind of ball? Is there a knuckleball craze in our team all of a sudden?”

At the beginning of the season, Seattle fans, who looked at Han Su-hyeok with half-doubt and half-expectation, have now become completely his fans.

Although the number of games is still insufficient, everyone knows that he has the talent to become the best player in the league as a hitter and as a pitcher.

The appearance that Han Su-hyeok is showing to such Seattle fans today is shocking itself.

Whoosh

Boom

“Swing! Out!”

“What? Three knuckleballs again? Is his shoulder broken? No, apart from that, did he originally know how to throw a knuckleball?”

“Damn it, that’s not what I wanted to see! Throw a hotter ball!”

The Toronto hitters, who couldn’t handle Han Su-hyeok’s knuckleball, and the spectators watching the scene were all bewildered by the current situation.

But Han Su-hyeok kept throwing only knuckleballs as if he didn’t care about that.

That’s how the innings continued.

1st inning, 2nd inning, 3rd inning, 4th inning, and 5th inning.

When Han Su-hyeok blocked 5 innings with only one knuckleball without giving up a run,

The spectators who had been complaining about him closed their mouths and began to focus on each of Han Su-hyeok’s balls.